“We hope you will find happiness here”

Not so long ago sushi and teriyaki chicken defined Japanese food in America. In large part I credit my dad Rocky Aoki. As the founder of Benihana he brought Japanese food to the world. But times have changed and so has the sophistication of our palates. Today customers expect authentic flavors, fresh quality ingredients, and dishes that reflect a high level of craftsmanship and artistic detail.
When we opened our first Doraku restaurant in South Beach Florida, we set out to reinvent the Japanese restaurant by capturing the flavors of Latin Cuisine while staying true to the sushi tradition of my native Japan. To create a truly authentic experience, the restaurant itself was modeled after an Izakaya, which is a Japanese gastropub.
An Izakaya serves food meant to be shared among friends. Our menu is a mix of popular items like sushi and more inventive fusion dishes. Since no meal would be complete without sake, Doraku has one of the most extensive selections of sake in the United States. Each year we travel to Japan to hand- select new varieties of artisanal sake (known in Japanese as Jizake) from local microbreweries.
Doraku is a restaurant, bar and gathering place that celebrates Japanese food, drink and hospitality. It’s a place to have fun with friends or to unwind after a long day at work. It is the commitment to quality and attention to detail that make the Doraku experience live up to its name: “the road to happiness.”